Poor turnout reported in Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary and Council by-elections

Results are beginning to trickle in, following Saturday’s Parliamentary and Council by-elections in Zimbabwe.

Video | Zimbabwe by-election results trickle in: Ephert Musekiwa

The country’s main political parties Zanu-PF, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the Coalition Citizens for Change (CCC) had, in recent weeks, been campaigning in areas where the polls were taking place.

It is reported that the turnout was very poor in most of the constituencies in the capital, Harare.

The turnout ranged below 40% and in some instances below 30%. The only high turnout was in the rural constituencies.

Video | Zimbabwe by-elections:  Voting situation with Tafadzwa Mugwadi

The Zanu-PF party currently controls parliament with a two-thirds majority.

The parliamentary poll has been conducted in eight out of the country’s 10 provinces.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said on Friday all logistical arrangements were in place and it has set up 1 317 polling stations for the parliamentary election across the eight provinces.